PAKATAN Harapan presidential council urged the Government to establish a royal commission on inquiry (RCI) to investigate the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and recommend measures to strengthen the agency.
“In the meantime, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki must be relieved off his duties temporarily until investigation is completed,” it said in a statement.
Recently, Singapore-based Straits Times reported that three MACC officers have been arrested for allegedly misappropriating funds connected to a case involving the country’s former spymaster.
The trio, who were detained last week, had allegedly stolen a portion of US$6 mil (RM25 mil) seized from the former director-general of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid.
It was claimed that some of the stolen cash was replaced with counterfeit currency.
Both UMNO supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi and DAP MP Gobind Singh Deo have questioned on why the MACC was investigating its own officers, as theft cases should come under police’s purview.
However, a local academic slammed politicians for being hypocritical on the matter, adding both blocs refused to grant MACC the legislative power to become truly independent body, with enough legal bite to work professionally.
Touching on the matter, Pakatan leaders said they welcomed Home Ministry’s announcement at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, where the police have opened investigation papers on the matter.
“But the case has tarnished MACC’s image badly and people have started questioning the agency’s integrity.
“Therefore, we call the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and throw the book on those who broke our laws,” it stressed.
The statement was signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president Datuk Seri Madius Tangau. – Sept 23, 2021
